William h



(No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- I. W. H. APPLETON. WORK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MAUHINES.No; 439,585.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2'; W. ll APPLETON.

WORK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR KNIIITING MACHINES. No. 439,585.Patented Oct. 28, 1890,

(NoModeL) 3 SheetsSheet 3. W. H. APPLETON. WORK TRANSFERRING MECHANISMFOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 439,585. Patented Oct. 28,1890.

v U 'WMAN Us v iv v UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM H. APPLETON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALVAH IV.SULLOl/VAY, OF FRANKLIN FALLS, NEWV HAMPSHIRE.

WORK-TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,585, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed March 31, 1890. Serial No. 345,942. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, WILLIAMH. APPLETON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, county of New York, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWork-Transferring Mechanism for Knitting-Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

In an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me onor about the 18th day of March, 1890, Serial No. 344,320, I have shownand described a work-transferring mechanism for knitting-machines, inwhich the transferring-points are brought in succession into properrelation to the appropriate needles to permit of the transfer of theloops thereto in that order by imparting to the disk or body inWhiohsuch transferringpoints are mounted a wabbling movement back andforth across its plane while held from rotation.

My present invention, while relating to work-transferring mechanisms forknittingmachines generally, has reference more particularly to that formof transferring device illustrated and described in the. applicationaforesaid, upon which it is designed as an improvement, and has for itsobject to provide more efficient means for transferring the loops of thefabric from the transferring points to the needles than has heretoforebeen employed, as well as devices for preventing the rotation of thedisk or body earrying the transferring-points during the transferringoperation.

To these ends my invention consists, first, in a series oftransferring-bits, which are supported in the disk orbody carryingthctransferring-points and longitudinally reciprocated therein by meansof appropriate mechanism, whereby when the transferring-points arebrought into proper relation to their appropriate needles the transferof the loops from the former to the latter is automatically effected;second, in a bracket or stand secured to the housings or otherconvenient part of the machine and cooperating with an arm or lugsecured tothe disk or body in which the transferring-points are carriedto prevent its rotation during the transferring operation, and, third,in various other constructions and combinations of parts, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure l is a side elevation of the bed-plate,camcylinder, and needles of a circular-knitting machine with myinvention applied in connection therewith, some of the parts being shownin section and others broken away for convenience of illustration; Fig.2, a side elevation of the same, looking from the left in Fig. 1, thebracket or stand and its co-operating stud and stand for preventing therotation of the disk or body being omitted; Fig. 3, a section taken inthe plane 00 a: of Fig. 1, looking downward, a portion of the disk orbody being broken away; Fig. 4, a side elevation of one of thetransferring-bits and transferring-points detached; Fig. 5, a section ofthe same taken in the plane y y of Fig. 4, looking downward; Fig. 6, asectional elevation of a portion of the disk or body of aslightly-modified construction having parts of my invention applied inconnection therewith; and Figs. 7 and 8, sectional and side elevations,respectively, of the same parts, showing a still further modificationthereof.

In all the figures like letters are employed to designate correspondingparts.

A indicates a frame or support having formed therein at the appropriatepoint a suitable bearing B, in which is supported a shaft 0, provided onits upper end with a winch c, by means of which it maybe rotated, and onits lower end with a crank or eccentric D, the axis of which is inclinedat an angle to the axis of the shaft, all as shown. Mounted on thiscrank or eccentric, so as to permit of such crank or eccentric beingrotated therein, is a disk or body E, which is equipped with a series oftransferring-points c, projecting downward and outward from its,

'I of a circular-knitting machine are or may be the same as thecorresponding parts shown and described in the application aforesaid, towhich reference may be had, and require no further description herein.

Fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable guideways formed near theedge of the disk or body E in proper relation to the transferring-pointsc is a series of stems d, to the 5 lower end of which is secured aseries of transferring-bits L, through or by means of which the loopscarried by such points are transferred to the needlesF of theknitting-machine. These bits may be construct-ed in va- [0 rious ways.As shown in Figs. 1, 2, t, 5, and 6, they are formed so as to partiallyencircle at one of their ends the transferring-points in connection withwhich they are to respectively cooperate, and a separate bit isemploy'ed with each point, while in Figs. 7 and 8 they are illustratedas made in the form of a narrow strip or blade, the under edge of whichmay be serrated, if desired; but it is obvious that any other equivalentforms may be sub stituted in lieu thereof, if preferred. In their normalposition or at all times when the transfer of the loops is not beingeffected, these bits will rest in a suitable groove 1), formed in theunder side of the disk or body E and be held in that position by springsd, co-opcrating with the stems (Z to effect that result. These springs,like the bits L, may also be of various constructions. In Figs. 1 and 2they are shown as of spiral form, while in Figs. 6 0 and 7 they areillustrated as constructed with a coil in their middle and the two endsof the wires out of which they are respectively formed extendedoutwardlytherefrom on divergent lines, forming a V-shaped structure 5with a coil at its apex; but it is obvious that other forms of springsmay be employed in place thereof, it only being essential that the sameshall possess the necessaryyieldingand resilient qualities to adaptthemfor the puro pose required.

hen the spiral form of spring is adopted, it will preferably be disposedaround the stem d with its upper end bearing against a lug (Z thereonand its lower end resting upon 5 the upper side of the disk or body E,as shown; but when the V-shaped spring is employed it will be founddesirable to arrange it wholly within the circle formed by the series ofstems with its lower end or limb secured to the upper side of said diskor body and its upper end or limb engaging the lugs (Z on the stem (1.As the parts are thus constructed and arranged, the transfer of theloops from the transferririg-points to the needle when the former arebrought into the proper relation with respect to the latter will beeffected by simply depressing the stems (Z and with them their attachedtransferring-bits L, when the loops will be forced by the latter fromthe t 'ansferring-points to the needles, after which the stems and bitswill be returned to their original position by the action of the springsand be ready for the next operation, and so on. To accomplish thisdepression of the stems and bits, various means may be employed. Iprefer, however, to make use of a cam M, and so mount it as to permit ofits be ing successively carried into contact with the several stems (Zas the transfcrring-points, in connection with which their attachedtransferring-bits respectively co-operate, are successively broughtintotheir lowest position by the wabbling of the disk or body E in whichthey are secured. The means made use of for effecting this mounting andcarrying of the cam in my preferred form of construction consists of anarm N, which extends outwardly from the shaft (J in such relation to thecrank or eccentricD asto support said cam on the side of the shaft whichis diametrically opposite that toward which the lower end of the crankor eccentric inclines. The effect of this arrangement will be to bringthe cam directly over those stems of the series which are supported inthe portion of the disk or body E that is for the time being depressedto its lowest position and maintain it in that relation at all timesduring the operation of the mechanism. The cam being thus mounted, itsmovement to bring itself successively over the several stems of theseries will be accomplished by simply rotating the shaft C through theinstruinentality of the crank or winch a secured to its upper end, whenthe cam will be revolved around over the stems (l in proper relation tothe depressed portion of the disk or bodyE, which depressed portion willalso, as it were, be moved around in unison therewith as such disk orbody is wabbled back and forth across its plane by the action of thecrank or eccentric D therein. \Vhen the depression of the stems (Z is tobe occasioned-as, for instance, when the transfer of the loops from thetransferring-points to the needles is to be effected-the cam M willoccupy the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2; but when the loopsare to be picked upon the transferring-p0ints and at all other timesexcept that above mentioned it will rest in the position illustrated bybroken lines therein. To provide for these adjustments, the cam M,instead of being fixedly secured to the arm N, is fitted to slidevertically in a suitable guideway f, formed in the outer end thereof,and will be locked in its adjusted positions by means of aspring-actuated bolt 9, engaging with suitable orifices '6 formed in it,the movement of the cam from one of its positions to the other beingfacilitated by a handle or catch-piece h, secured to and projecting fromits front, as shown.

With the parts above described I sometimes find it convenient to employmeans for preventing the rotation of the disk or body E- during the timethat the crank or eccentric D is being rotated. The means which Iconsider the best suited to this purpose consists of a stand or bracket0, which is secured to the bed-plate I or other appropriate part of themachine and is provided with a vertical slot 0, in which is titted toslide a stud P, fixedly secured to the disk or body E, through theintermediary of a stand 17. In the form of construction preferred thearrangement of this stud with respect to the disk or body E and partscarried thereby will be such as to bring its axis into coincidence withthe plane passing across the lower ends of the transferring-points e,whereby while serving to restrain the disk or body from rotation andpermitting of the necessary wabbling movement being imparted thereto itwill also insure the proper relationship of the transferring-points tothe needles as the former are successively depressed and caused tooverlap the latter during the operation of the transferring mechanlsm.

The stand or bracket may be made either rigid throughout its entireextent or provided with a hinge 0, as shown. I find it desirable,however, to employ this last-mentioned construction in practice, asprovision is thereby made for swinging it back into a horizontalposition away from the parts in connection with which it co-operat-eswhen not required, a spring 0 being made use of for holding it in eithera vertical or horizontal position, as

- the same may be adjusted.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a construction in which the stems (l,fitted to slide in suitable guideways formed through the disk or body E,are wholly unsupported at their upper ends, while in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 Ihave illustrated a modification thereof, in which they are supported andguided throughout their entire length the disk or body in thislast-mentioned construction being provided with a flange e projectingupward from its upper face, up the inner side of which the guideways areextended, and the band 6 which forms the bottom of the same on theoutside, being made of the proper width to overlap both the edge of suchdisk or body and the flange carried thereby.

As thus constructed and arranged the operation of my invention is asfollows: The loops having been picked upon the transferring-points andthe transferring mechanism their appropriate needles.

applied to the knitting-machine, with the stud P engaging with the slot0 in the bracket 0, and the eainM adjusted to the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 2, the shaft will be rotated by revolving the crank orwinch upon its upper end, and the cam thereby carried around over and incontact with the stems supporting the transferring-bits. The result ofthese operations will be to cause the disk or body to wabble back andforth across its plane and successively bring the transferringpointscarried by it into proper relation to At the same time that thisrelationship between the transfer ring-points and the needles is beingestablished, the transferring bits, through their supporting-stems, willalso be depressed, and thus, through the cooperation of the severalparts mentioned, the transfer of the loops from their carrying-points tothe neeedles will be automatically effected.

It will thus be seen that by the construction and arrangement of partsabove pointed out I produce a transferring mechanism for knittingmachines which While extremely simple and cheap in construction is yetpractically automatic in its operation.

In the foregoing I have described the best means contemplated by me forcarrying my invention into practice; butI wish it distinctly understoodthat I do not limit myself strictly thereto, as it is obvious that thesame may be modified in various ways without departing from the spiritthereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with a series of needles, a series oftransferring-points, and devices for bringing the latter successivelyinto relation to their appropriate needles and causing them to overlapthe same, of a series of transferring-bits for co-operating with suchtransferring-points, and devices whereby these transferring-bits may bedepressed and elevated, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a circular series of needles, a series oftransferring-points, and devices for bringing them successively intoproper relation to their appropriate needles to permit of the transferof the loops from the former to the latter, of a series oftransferring-bits and devices whereby they may be 7 depressed to forcethe loops from the transferring-points upon theneedles, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with a circular series of needles, a disk or bodyprovided with a series of transferring-points, and devices forsupporting the same and successively bringing such points into relationto their appropriate needles to permit of the transfer of the loopstherefrom to said needles, of a series of transferring-bits and deviceswhereby they may be depressed to successively force the loops from thetransferring-points upon the needles, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, adisk or body provided with a series of transferring-points, and devicesfor supporting the same and successively bringing thetransferring-points into relation to their appropriate needles to permitof the transfer of the loops from the former to the latter, of a seriesof transferring-bits, a series of stems upon which thesetransferringbits are mounted, fitted to suitable guideways in the diskor body, and devices whereby the stems and bits may be depressed in theproper order to force the loops from the transferringpoints upon theneedles, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, adisk or body provided with a series of transferring-points, and devicesfor supporting the same and for i1nparting to such disk or body awabbling movement across its plane to successively bring thetransferring-points into relation to their appropriate needles to permitof the transfer of the loops from the fornf'er to the latter, of aseries of transferring-bits, a series of stems upon which the bits aremounted, and devices whereby such stems and bits may be both dopressedand elevated, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the needles of acircular-knitting machine, adisk or bridyprovided with a series of transferring-points, and devicesfor supporting the same and imparting to such disk or body a wabblingmovement across its plane to successively bring the transferringpointsinto relation to their appropriate needles to permit of the transfer ofthe loops from the former to the latter, of devices for preventing therotation of said disk or body, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, adisk orbody provided with a series of transferring'points, and devicesfor supporting the same and imparting to such disk or body a wabblingmovement across its plane to successively bring the transferring-pointsinto relation to their appro n'iate needles to permit of the transfer ofthe loops from the former to the latter, of a bracket provided with avertical slot and a stud co-operating therewith to prevent the rotationof said disk or body, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the needles of a circular-knitting machine, adisk or body provided with a series of transferring-points, and devicesfor supporting the same and imparting to such disk or body a wabblingmovement across its plane to successively bring the transferring-pointsinto relation to their appropriate needles to permit of the transfer ofthe loops from the former to the latter, of a bracket provided with avertical slot, a sup port to which such bracket is hinged, and a studsecured to the disk or body, engaging said slot, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination, with the disk or body carrying a series oftransferring-points, a shaft provided with a crank or eccentric, uponwhich the disk or body is arranged having its axis inclined at an angleto the axis of the shaft, a support in which such shaft is mounted, aseries of transferring-bits, and a series of stems upon which thetransferringbits are carried, fitted to slide in suitable guidewaysformed in the disk or body, of a cam for depressing such stems and bits,and means whereby the cam is supported and operated from the shaft andthe latter rotated, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a disk or body carrying a series oftransferring-points, a shaft provided with a crank or eccentric, uponwhich the disk or body is arranged having its axis inclined at an angleto the axis of the shaft, a support in which such shaft is mounted, aseries of traiisfcrring-bits, and a series of stems upon which thetransferringbits are carried, tilted to slide in suitable guidewaysformed in the disk or body, of a cam for depressing these stems, aseries of springs for elevating the same after theirdepression, and anarm in which the cam is carried, secured to and projected from theshaft, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the disk or body carrying a series oftransferring-points, a shaft provided with a crank or eccentric, uponwhich the disk or body is mounted having its axis inclined at an angleto the axis of the shaft, a support in which the shaft is journaled, aseries of transferri ng-bits, a series of stems upon which thetransferring-bitsare carried, a cam for depressing the stems and bits,and a series of springs for elevating them, of an arm in which such camis adj ustably mounted, projecting from the side of said shaft in properrelation to the crank upon which the disk or body is arranged tomaintain the cam at all times over that portion of said disk or bodywhich is depressed to the greatest extent, and devices whereby the shaftmay be rotated, substantially as described.

12.- The combination, with the disk or body carrying a series oftransferririg-points, a shaft provided with a crank or eccentric, uponwhich the disk or body is mounted having its axis inclined at an angleto the axis of the shaft, a support in which the shaft is journaled, anddevices whereby said shaft may be rotated, of devices for restrainingthe disk or body from rotation, substantially as described.

The combination, with a disk or body carrying a series oftransterling-points, a shaft provided with a crank or eccentric, uponwhich the disk or body is mounted having its axis inclined at an angleto the axis of the shaft, a support in which the shaft is journaled, anddevices whereby said shaft may be rotated, of a bracket provided with avertical slot, a support upon which the bracket is secured, and a studsecured to the disk or body andco-operating with said slot,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of March,1800.

WILLIAM H. APPLETON.

Witnesses:

Gnonon 1. ArPLEToN, HENRY CARTER.

IOf

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